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Renowned demolition expert Richard Vann honoured with prestigious IDE fellowship

Renowned demolition expert Richard Vann honoured with prestigious IDE fellowship

In a momentous recognition of his dedication and contribution to the demolition industry, Richard Vann, founder and managing director of RVA Group, has been granted the esteemed title of Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Demolition Engineers (IDE). The announcement, made on behalf of the IDE Membership Committee, is a testament to Vann’s four decades of unwavering commitment to both safety and excellence in the field.

Effective from 10 November 2023, Vann will be entitled to a lifetime membership with the Institute, and can proudly append the initials Hon.FIDE after his name.

Upon receiving the news, Vann elaborated on the significance of the award: “To be acknowledged by one of my peers is deeply humbling. This fellowship is not just a recognition of my work, but a testament to the dedicated team at RVA Group — reflecting our collective commitment to elevating safety and quality standards in the demolition industry. After 40 years in the space, this award will rank among my career highlights. I feel immensely proud.” 

Recognising a void in decommissioning project management, Richard Vann’s brainchild, RVA Group, sought to place greater emphasis on end-of-life processes. He saw that, while construction projects were meticulously planned and executed, decommissioning works were often relegated to the background, marked by inadequate resources, insufficient training, and dangerously tight schedules and budgets.

Assembling a team of engineers and project managers — each a leader in their respective disciplines — he has since led the charge to help redefine standards for complex project handling. At the core of RVA’s operations lies an unwavering principle: the safety and wellbeing of every individual involved. Vann’s dedication to ensuring that every colleague returns home safely every day has become the guiding light of RVA Group.

Under Vann’s leadership, the global consultancy has successfully completed over 900 assignments worldwide, including front-end engineering and decommissioning projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia more recently. Collaborations with major brands include BASF, INEOS, Engie, ConocoPhillips and GSK.

Vann’s visionary approach has not only reshaped industry standards but has also garnered international acclaim. His hat trick appointment to the British Demolition Awards’ judging panel this year further demonstrates his influential role in shaping the future of the sector.

The Institute of Demolition Engineers hosted a presentation ceremony at this year’s Annual Luncheon on 10 November, where Vann was presented with his certificate as an Honorary Fellow.

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Richard Vann joins Global EPC Project Management Forum speaker line-up

Richard Vann, British Demolition Awards judge

We’re delighted to announce that Richard Vann, RVA Group’s managing director, will join the 44-strong speaker line-up for this year’s Global EPC Project Management Forum. Richard’s extensive expertise in the decommissioning space, coupled with his unwavering commitment to quality assurance and safety, makes him a notable addition to the event programme.

Taking place on 27-30 November, the 11th annual four-day expo will welcome delegates from the engineering, procurement and construction industries to the Leonardo Royal Hotel in Amsterdam, the charismatic heart of the Netherlands.

As well as offering a deep understanding of the challenges faced in managing EPC contracts, the speakers will reference practical case studies and provide strategic project management and leadership training throughout the forum. A more holistic view of the EPC project lifecycle — from proposals and FEED to execution and delivery — will place professionals in excellent stead to deliver more streamlined, secure, and successful works.

Richard’s exploration into how to prepare for and procure a secure decommissioning project is scheduled for the final day of the conference, 30 November, at 10:30am. Within this session, he’ll cover a number of insightful topics, including:

  • Plant shutdown and decommissioning activities
  • The definition of ‘known condition’ and the critical question of ‘how clean is clean?’
  • Comprehensive surveys and data gathering techniques
  • Compiling bid packages and the meticulous tender process
  • The crucial process of selecting the right contractor for such projects

In a landscape where EPC projects are increasingly complex and executed on a grand scale, Richard’s wealth of practical knowledge will prove to be an invaluable addition to the agenda. His expertise also aligns with the event’s focus on bridging a gap between the engineering and contract realms in asset-intensive projects.

Join us at this year’s Global EPC Project Management Forum to gain exclusive access to Richard’s insights, as well as the strategic guidance of other leading lights in the industry. These engaging discussions will not only enhance your understanding of secure decommissioning, but also offer solutions for aligning expectations between all parties involved in capital projects. 

Secure your virtual or in-person spot now, and be part of a transformative dialogue on the future of EPC project management.

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RVA spotlight – meet Jonathan Tann

Name and role: Jonathan Tann – project manager

How long have you been with RVA Group?

Almost seven years.

Describe your career journey before that:

After graduating, I spent around five years as a mechanical engineer within the underground mining industry, managing major projects and preventative maintenance. I followed a very steep learning curve, given the vast array of equipment and intricate systems. I was involved in everything from complex hydraulic issues underground to construction and demolition projects on the surface. 

What did you want to be, when you were younger?

Inspired by the local Sunderland Airshow, I dreamt of being a fighter pilot or flying the red arrows. Having spent a number of years in the army cadets, I had also considered a career in the forces. With maths and physics being my strong points, and having a keen interest in how things worked, I was destined for a career in engineering. 

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful project manager?

If I was to put one above all I would probably choose the ability to forward think and foresee potential problems. However, people skills are equally important. 

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

Supporting our client Engie in achieving the safe planning, decommissioning and demolition of Rugeley Power Station, which took a little over five years in total — from decommissioning through to completion — without a major incident.   

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

Support and help others where you can, avoiding blame culture.

Describe your dream project:

One with a range of new technical challenges. 

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

By remaining experts in the decommissioning/demolition field without diversification, focusing on improvement within this sector, and maintaining high standards.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

I would have to say both the chemical process and power generation sectors. They are both equally challenging in terms of the decommissioning and plant preparation scope and complex arrangement of the heavy structures involved. 

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

Seek advice as soon as demolition is confirmed and organise a strong team to support the delivery of the project — including retaining site knowledge within the relevant disciplines. 

What makes you tick outside of work?

Spending time with the family, keeping active, and training towards my private pilot’s licence. When time permits, I love a good DIY project too.  

If you could be given a plane ticket for any location, where would you choose?

I like to travel as much as possible, but one continent I haven’t visited is Asia. So somewhere like Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, or Malaysia.

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Helpful.

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Does 30 years in a role become boring?

Richard Vann, British Demolition Awards judge

This month, RVA Group’s managing director, Richard Vann, spoke with Demolition and Recycling International (D&RI) about what it takes for demolition professionals to be fulfilled within their role.

In case you missed the article, you can catch up below.

Richard Vann, Managing Director of RVA Group, discusses why jobs in the demolition industry are interesting and fulfilling.

I stumbled across an article the other day, purportedly summarising the typical habits of boring people. It was something that could easily make for a difficult read if the reader was experiencing something of an identity crisis, or a confidence dip.

But as I digested the points – no doubt little more than click bait – it struck me that maybe these so-called ‘boring people’ are simply bored because their job roles are unsatisfying, as the article described the absolute opposite of what it is to be a demolition professional. Certainly, the type of demolition professional I want to be.

Why effective communication is so important

Boring people have unbalanced conversations, the article said. They don’t include others in dialogue, and they don’t evaluate engagement.

But ours is a world built on foundations of solid communication. From truly listening to a client’s needs and unpicking the knowledge and learned experiences of a client’s personnel, to engaging wider stakeholders and keeping the local community informed, an effective project relies on multi-way conversations that don’t dry up.

Communication is everyone’s responsibility too – not solely the client’s, or contractor’s, or consultant’s. Robust methodologies require technical know-how, yes, but successful programmes of work draw upon empathy, transparency, and honesty.

I do think we have some work to do when it comes to the diversity of voices within the demolition profession though, so I hope for change here over the coming years – especially when it comes to fresh talent entering the industry.

Adapting to new challenges in business

Adaptability matters too in demolition. So, given boring people are considered to always do the same thing, I’d say our approach to innovation means we’ve little to worry about in this respect.

From plant manufacturers’ continuing development of equipment, to the evolution of services offered during difficult economic times, an ability to embrace change underpins resilience and long-term reputational success.

AI may be yet to make much of a mark in our world, but I’m interested to see where intelligent tools such as ChatGPT transform some of the more administrative tasks within the profession.

The benefits of sharing professional knowledge

The article went on to suggest that boring people don’t have anything new to say in conversations, they don’t have opinions or beliefs to share, and they don’t know how to tell a good story.

Drawing upon the communication points above, I don’t think these are descriptors you’d choose for a demolition professional. We have a wealth of knowledge to impart, in detail, for projects to be a success.

We must think critically, to ensure the safe, environmentally sound and cost-effective execution of projects, and given the complexity – and risks – associated with our work, our values and integrity matter as much as our experience.

And, apparently, boring people can’t make others laugh. Now, don’t get me wrong, ours is a serious business, not least because it is inherently hazardous. But we can and should enjoy ourselves.

Since the start of 2023 alone, members of our team have had the absolute pleasure of working alongside clients, partners, and prospective new peers in countries including Cyprus, Brazil, Dubai, Israel, Kenya, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

And you can’t fail to be energised by the opportunities that such collaborations bring. They keep our minds fresh. And while we will long be grateful and passionate about the UK market, the chance to export our expertise and showcase just how many skills this country has to offer, is an exciting prospect.

Thought leadership

The article went on to say that boring people don’t have anything new to add. But I’m certainly hard-wired to share information, encourage debate and push for progress. I think the same can be said for many of my peers.

We’re all different of course, and there are some people in our industry who are perhaps a little more stuck in old ways. But when I think back to where RVA started, at my kitchen table in North Yorkshire just over 30 years ago, life has changed so much. My role has changed so much. Demolition has changed so much. I’m not tired of it. It isn’t monotonous. Every assignment is different.

There’s been no time to become bored. And there’s so much more to embrace, if we remain open to it.

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RVA spotlight – meet Joel Barnes

Name and role: Joel Barnes – project engineer.

How long have you been with RVA Group?

One and a half years.

Describe your career journey before that:

I started as a process engineer, specialising in power station desulphurisation plants, before moving into power station maintenance management and projects.

What did you want to be, when you were younger?

I always assumed I’d be a farmer.

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful project engineer?

Probably drive – don’t leave the tricky issues until last!

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

There were some one-off projects in the bulk de-inventory stage at my current site that I think I managed quite well.

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

When I was starting out, an older colleague got me into the habit of keeping good records in a diary. It’s proved invaluable on quite a few occasions (thanks Jeff!).

Describe your dream project:

I’d quite like to drop a power station.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

RVA is good at hiring great people. Our project management system that’s been developed over the years, with productive ways of sharing learnings, has provided a solid basis throughout this time too.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

I think there will be some good opportunities within petrochem and power generation, not least as companies look to cut their carbon emissions.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

Get the right team in place!

What makes you tick outside of work?

Family stuff with Clare, my wife, and the kids. I also like a good book.

If you could be given a plane ticket for any location, where would you choose?

I’d like to go somewhere really cold. Iceland or Finland, maybe?

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Moderate.

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7 key points on international demolition work

Richard Vann, British Demolition Awards judge

Recently, RVA Group’s managing director, Richard Vann, sat down with Demolition and Recycling International (D&RI) to discuss the seven key ways the demolition market has evolved since 2017 — when he spoke at the World Demolition Summit.

In case you missed the original article, catch up below.

In 2017 I spoke at the World Demolition Summit, majoring on the importance of considering demolition’s future beyond domestic markets. Six years on, here are some reflections on how the market for demolition has developed since that time.

1. Some of the United Kingdom-based delegates who attended that London event had already ventured into international territory.

But most – from talking to them later that day – seemed comfortable with the idea of UK work alone.

There is nothing wrong with that.

2. For decades, British demolition professionals have worked hard to change the face of what’s possible in their country.

This has ranged from bulldozing buildings to meticulously dismantling high hazard, multi-hectare industrial sites, piece by piece, for maximum material recovery and sometimes plant reassembly elsewhere.

These projects – and our evolving methods – have seen us thrive as an industry.

3. We have been busy.

We have been there when the economy needed us.

We have changed the UK landscape by demolishing coal mining sites.

We have removed fleets of municipal incinerators when the European Union (EU) deemed them environmentally unacceptable.

We have cleared coal fired power stations when the market has moved on. We’ve demolished chemical plants when technological innovation has left operations obsolete. We have stepped in during emergency situations when structures have sadly been rendered unsafe.

4. Collectively, we have safely brought thousands of industrial assets to the ground to pave the way for something new, something different. That is an incredible story to be a part of.

However, it is not to say the story is over.

The demolition of both large and small sites will continue on a domestic level.

Markets will advance and incumbent assets will need upgrading. The demand for “new” will continue. Structures will deteriorate and plants will still become redundant.

5. But the biggest UK industrial sites – perhaps nuclear and offshore oil or gas aside – have diminished as prospects for the demolition industry.

It is something we have known and talked about for some time. However, during a recent trip to the Middle East, I was reminded once more of how different things are.

I travelled to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a colleague, to complete a costings study for a power plant owned by the full-service integrated utility provider Marafiq.

This front-end engineering exercise – which began around a year ago – saw us undertake investigative assessments surrounding the residual useful life and future options for several assets.

The client will now use our evidence-based findings, to make informed decisions that will underpin the next steps for the site.

We also marked the start of a new project with petrochemical giant S-Chem, who sought our help to plan and coordinate a decommissioning project in Al Jubail.

It was a productive and memorable trip, including visits to many other facilities.

6. One thing that stood out in the Middle East was the scale of the sites we saw.

I would go so far as to say we toured one of the biggest demolition undertakings, on a single site, that I’ve ever seen.

This is largely because the industries we have already said goodbye to in the UK, for example, are at a different stage in their journey in many other countries.

The size of investment varies in different parts of the world too, as evidenced by the colossal nature of the site we saw in Saudi Arabia.

These are the projects that so many demolition professionals globally, not just in the UK, would love to undertake.

And Saudi will not be an isolated example.

The underlying point to note here is that vast industrial projects do still exist, but they won’t all be on home turf.

7. Working overseas presents barriers and challenges.

There are different laws. Different cultures. Different skillsets. Different benchmark standards. Different protocols and procedures. Different technologies.

And for UK firms working in the European Union, it has become a whole lot tougher as a result of Brexit. I can say this from my own painful experiences. We have even set up overseas subsidiaries to accommodate the “new” requirements.

Because all these challenges can be overcome, they don’t take away from the opportunities that also exist.

Our expertise is sought, so why keep it to ourselves?

Why not push beyond geographical boundaries?

Read Richard Vann’s regular column in the print and digital versions of Demolition & Recycling International.

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RVA spotlight — meet Matt Hedges

Meet Matt Hedges | RVA Group Project Manager

Name and role: Matt Hedges, Project Manager

How long have you been with RVA Group? 

Almost seven years.

Describe your career journey before that? 

I worked for a German engineering company for 16 years, installing emissions reduction systems at coal fired power stations.

What did you want to be, when you were younger? 

I was never really sure. Like a lot of kids, I dreamt of being a footballer, but realistically, I was interested in building designs and wanted to be an architect, so I studied building construction at technical college.

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful decommissioning project manager? 

Having a strong understanding of the project, knowing the constraints, ensuring robust systems are in place, and being able to manage changes.

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date? 

Working on a long-term project with a major pharmaceutical client to safely decommission multiple process buildings and a solvent storage facility.

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career? 

Working with a good team of people makes the job go so much better.

Describe your dream project.

To plan and project manage the build of my own house, somewhere remote.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry? 

Hard work, experience, and commitment. We have a continuous improvement mindset, so are always trying to build on what has been learnt from previous projects, so we can use that knowledge on the next assignment. The goal is always to ensure the highest standards of safety for all involved.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

I couldn’t pick just one — they all have unique challenges, depending on the individual project, let alone the sector.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

Allow sufficient time to understand the risks and hazards of the client’s specific processes, and — where possible — use the knowledge and experience of the workforce to identify potential issues, as they know their plant better than anyone. 

What makes you tick outside of work?

Spending time with my kids when they come to stay and seeing them happy.  I enjoy getting out hiking or mountain biking as well — anything out in the countryside really. 

If you could be given a plane ticket for anywhere, where would you choose?

Probably somewhere like Peru or Chile — I’d go and trek somewhere for a few months. 

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Legend Funny.

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RVA spotlight – meet M. Rashid Shauq

RVA spotlight - meet M. Rashid Shauq

Name and role: M. Rashid Shauq, project manager

How long have you been with RVA Group? 

Almost 10 years.

Describe your career journey before that? 

After graduating in mechanical engineering in 1993, I was placed on a Grad Start pilot scheme. This allowed me to work in the petrochemical sector in the Northeast – mainly on the Wilton & Seal Sands sites – as a junior engineer within the maintenance & construction departments.  

Following that I became a maintenance manager on several industrial and petrochemical sites within the Northeast and North Yorkshire areas. 

What did you want to be, when you were younger? 

A sportsperson, but mainly a snooker player or an athlete.

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful project manager?

I’d say there are three core elements to this role – truly understanding the client and project requirements, planning, and having clear communication skills (verbal & written).

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

Completing all decommissioning and demolition projects with no major health and safety issues.

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

The importance of getting on with my own team members as well as the client’s team. 

I would also encourage people to use the resources and knowledge that they already have, or that is accessible, and not be frightened to ask if they’re unsure about anything – no-one knows everything.

Describe your dream project.

Any decommissioning and/or demolition project where we’re involved from start to finish, that is completed safely, on time, within budget and leads to repeat business opportunities.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

We have a great safety track record and working standards, both in terms of our on-site conduct and within our quality systems. This is one of the key reasons we secure repeat business, which is also something to be especially proud of. 

While we have a strong heritage, RVA remains innovative too, with the business continually evolving with the times and adapting to meet changing client requirements. 

Our experience and knowledge base has underpinned RVA’s progress towards having this globally renowned position in industry, and we share new ideas and methodologies all the time, to guide our clients down the right path.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

I personally find all our sectors exciting – whether we’re decommissioning a power plant or a chemical manufacturing facility, or anything in between. The client could ask for anything, at any time, whether in the UK or abroad, which keeps our minds and roles fresh.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

Ensure that decommissioning work starts as early as possible with the right team in place. Ideally that ‘dream team’ will include people with asset specific knowledge too.

What makes you tick outside of work?

I like to go to the gym at least five times a week. I also like to go on holiday in both the UK and abroad, mainly to Cyprus (Paphos). 

I am a grandad now too, so my two-year-old granddaughter takes up some of my spare time which is a good thing – I’m loving watching her develop and grow.

If you could be given a plane ticket for anywhere, where would you choose?

Australia – specifically Adelaide and Melbourne. The last time I was there was in 1998 to watch the Ashes cricket – Australia v England – and I’d love to go back.

Which one word would you hope colleagues would use to describe you?

Polite.

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Decommissioning projects continue for RVA Group in Middle East

Decommissioning projects continue for RVA in Middle East

RVA Group is no stranger to international travel, with approximately a third of our assignments to date having been completed overseas. 

And global projects look set to dominate much of our 2023 calendar, with managing director Richard Vann, and engineering and consultancy director Mark Taylor, having recently returned from a successful trip to the Middle East.

This visit took the duo – two of our most experienced decommissioning colleagues – to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to bring to a close the completion of a costings study for a Marafiq power plant. This front-end engineering exercise – which began around a year ago – saw the team undertake investigative assessments surrounding the residual useful life and future options for a number of energy assets. These evidence-based options have now been presented back to the client, so they can make informed decisions that will underpin the next step plans for their vast site. 

While in Saudi, we also marked the beginning of a new project with S-Chem. The petrochemicals giant has appointed RVA to help them plan and coordinate one of their decommissioning projects in Al Jubail, which will see the teams collaborate through to the end of the year. The assignment will leverage RVA’s hybrid approach – which became even more popular during the pandemic – which includes remote desk-based research, studies and planning, as well as physical on-site visits over the course of the project.

“Despite us doing this for 30 years – and counting – you still can’t beat the buzz that comes with either a project kick-off, or a completion meeting,” said Richard. “And Saudi Arabia did not disappoint. 

“We were met with a fantastic welcome, and had a productive and memorable trip. We also had the opportunity to see some other sites while we were there, and the scale of the sites is simply phenomenal. I’d go so far as to say we toured one of the biggest demolition undertakings, on a single site, I’ve ever seen.

“The visit was a firm reminder that, while working overseas is not straightforward- from a legal, cultural, logistical or procedural point of view, there is a world of opportunity out there, and I am proud that RVA’s services know no geographical boundaries.”

Richard and Mark met with three other prospective clients during their time in Saudi Arabia, and at the time of writing, RVA learnt that a contract to oversee the dismantling of a desalination plant, has already been secured. More on that, soon…

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RVA spotlight – meet Mark Taylor

RVA spotlight - meet Mark Taylor

Name and role: Mark Taylor, engineering & consultancy director

How long have you been with RVA Group?

15 years, although it seems like a lifetime (in a good way!) Previously the longest I had been in a post was six years.  This was because when I was young, I was told that if you stay in a role for less than two years you are not giving your all to the position, and over five years means you are no longer learning.  With RVA, the amount of impact I can make has resulted in such a long tenure.

Describe your career journey before that?

I graduated as a civil engineer from Newcastle, and it was around this time that desktop computers were starting to appear! I immediately enrolled on a full-time, post graduate diploma in business and IT, to learn more about this new tool – and business in general.  In fact, after this, my first job was with the Tees & Hartlepool Port Authority in their IT department.  This was probably my proudest application – not because it was my first, but because I was successful against 50 other candidates, all of whom had IT degrees. It was only six months into this role that the government-funded TDC made money available to the Port Authority, and I was moved to their design office to take up a role of civil/project Engineer. 

After five years, I left to join P. C. Richardson’s (specialist access contractor – steeplejacks) as a project engineer/manager.  It was during these four years that I became involved in nuclear decommissioning, which eventually saw me leaving to join Atkins Nuclear at Whitehaven.  

My six years at Atkins covered the decommissioning of legacy nuclear assets across the UK – including a role within a BNFL project team as a responsible civil, structural, and architectural engineer on the Ponds Retrieval Project at Sellafield.  I finished my time at Atkins as group head of Atkins Nuclear North. It was from here that I was asked to join RVA.

What did you want to be, when you were younger?

I never really had an ideal career aspiration.  In school, I applied to be a pilot for the RAF, but my eyesight was not good enough. In truth, when I studied civil engineering at university, I didn’t really know what I wanted to be, but I was interested in buildings and structures.  It was a family friend who suggested this route as it opened up more opportunities after graduating. 

And what do you think is the key skill you need to be a successful engineering and consultancy director?

To be able to understand and manage clients’ requirements, communicate clearly with them, and tailor services to provide fit-for-purpose advice and deliverables that are accurate and presented correctly. 

What’s your biggest RVA achievement to date?

Developing RVA Engineering Solutions Limited – the client-facing consultancy side of the business – to become the professional, reputable, quality-defined organisation that it is today. We have clear products, services and deliverables, and a continued bright future ahead. 

And the most memorable thing you’ve learnt during your career?

Be honest with the people you are dealing with and yourself – respect is built from that.

Describe your dream project.

A ‘cradle to grave’ demolition project. From inputting into the facility’s design, to updating the financial provisions, providing initial guidance and options studies for closure, planning (including budgeting) in preparing for closure, assistance in decommissioning, overseeing the demolition and remediation, and exploring potential new uses for the land. This would be a long project – I agree – and not many could be achieved in my working life span, if the operating phase is successful.

RVA Group is celebrating 30 years in business, with a truly global reputation for decommissioning excellence. Why do you think the company has earned such a stand-out position in industry?

Integrity. RVA’s philosophy of delivering world class decommissioning projects, executed in the right way (HSE excellence without compromise), while providing clients with confidence in this and financial best practice, is core to our existence.

Of all the sectors RVA operates in, which is the most exciting right now?

For me it’s not a ‘sector’, it is location.  There are fewer and fewer large-scale demolition projects in the UK, and we are on the cusp of the UK demolition industry looking further afield for work. Yet RVA has had a truly international presence for some time, having executed projects in wider Europe, the US, the middle and far east, along with the rest of the Americas.   It is an exciting time as we continue to expand into existing and new overseas territories.

What’s the biggest piece of advice you could give to an organisation preparing for a decommissioning project?

It is NEVER too early to start planning. Ideally, decommissioning should be discussed and budgeted for, during the facility’s original design.  There are so many aspects to understand and agree on to ensure financial success, and most importantly Health, Safety and Environmental excellence, that planning for decommissioning should be ingrained into business decisions from the outset – certainly well before a facility is due to close.

What makes you tick outside of work?

For leisure – rugby, rugby, rugby and cycling.  Although too old to play anymore, I still help out with the committee of my local Rugby Club (Yarm) – who I helped found in 1997 – and I like to travel to at least two international matches a year.  I cycled a lot at school, and I have come back to it as a way to stay fit now my rugby playing days are over, doing the ETAPE Loch Ness sportive every year. 

As for sheer satisfaction, I spend as much free time as possible with my three granddaughters, who are two, five, and seven. 

If you could be given a plane ticket for anywhere, where would you choose?

I have to pick two as I can’t decide between them, and they are Cape Town and Singapore.  They are by far the best places outside the UK I have ever been to on my travels. 

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